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We was all set after weeks of planning I’m finally taking Paul on a proper carp fishing session, the dates and times where all set, location finalised. (am on Sat 7^th March (well just after 9am, Paul cant tell the time). Paul arrived at my house  with his son Craig AKA the male tart. We loaded his car up with all my gear and bait had a cup of tea whilst we waited for Mike. Tea drunk and Mike arrived at about 10 had another of cup of tea and made arrangements on the travel. Where we was going Orchard Place fisheries near Paddock Wood in kent is not a easy place to find so it was decided that Mike was going to pick Wez up and then meet us at Folkestone Tescos as we had a few last minute thing to pick up.

We all left my house and made our way to tescos/Wez. We ran in got the few bits we needed and met wez and mike in the car park, “right we will follow you as you got it in the sat nav and know the way” I said. A swift reply of “well you will have to wait, brakes are seized on we need the AA”. Mike duely rings the AA and was told oh we will just recover you. Mike arranged for them to come and have a look before recovery to see if a roadside repair can be done. 45 minutes later AA turn up. Bloke jumps out “ oh we don’t do brakes, ill arrange the recovery”.

We after 20 minutes fannying about, there was no other option but me Paul and Craig to continue on our quest and the other 2 to go home. We could not fit them in the car. We headed out to paddock wood following Pauls sat nav, That was mistake no1. Following this females voice got us no where near the lakes. I text mike and asked where we needed to be then Pearson Green Road sprung to mind. Plumbed that into the sat nav and we was 4 miles away. Well by 1.30 we arrive at the lake. Only us and one other person on the lake.

At Orchard place fisheries you can drive around the lake to drop your gear off so it saves alot of back breaking, swearing and curseing. We was just about to start to drive around the lake and I noticed the gate was locked. Just our luck i thought, got to carry all the gear to the lakes. Well we packed craig off with some gear to grab some swims. After some sweating and swearing we finally had all our gear at the lake, i was getting my bivvy put up and Craig was putting theirs up. Paul was erm having a ciggy i think. Once the bivvies were up it was time for craig to remember why he was there. He was the Tea bitch for the weekend (when we could stop him from texting his new girlfriend).

Early afternoon was rather uneventfull just sorting gear out putting some bait in water etc. The sun was going down and i was thinking about sorting the dinner out. All of a sudden i get a few beeps off my left hand rod, I jumped out of my bivvy got half way to my rod and it stopped. Just about to turn back around and go back in the bivvy i saw my rod tip curve around, i strike into it and the braid continues to move to the right, i apply lots of side strain to steer the fish away from my other rods, Then i see it surface. I shouted out to paul who was messing around with something, to come over and get the landing net. Its a Sturgeon i tell him but i don’t think he heard me, 10 minutes later after going to and fro from the bank to Island the fish is ready to net, Paul slides the net under the fish and i realised then it was not the small one (theres 2 in the lake one around 13lb) Placed the fish on the unhooking mat, unhooked him. Gave Paul my camera, ere paul take a couple of pics mate. He takes some pictures and then its on to weighing the fish. Christ it don’t fit in the way sling, this is about 4 and half foot long, my weigh sling is 3 foot long. Bugger I take the landing net apart to weigh the fish in that. 21lb 6oz it goes. Result, I returned the fish and then weighed the empty net 2lb 3oz so the fish is 19lb 3oz. I then head back into the bivvy to view the pictures of the monster, Crap they have not saved and the batteries are dead ( never buy cheap batteries for the camera) Quick text to Mike and few others. A string of abuse comes back from Mike as this was “his fish” apparently!

Well i thought we might be on to a winner so just as the light fades on with dinner, Chicken Korma, Rice, Naan bread, and Poppadums. After a nice dinner we are having a cup of tea in Pauls bivvy abusing craig about his girlfriend, Craig keeps getting some half hearted beeps and runs but nothing special.

During the night the gods decided to give us some rain which i slept through. I arranged with paul for him to wake me at 5.30 to bait up coffee etc. Well 9am i get oi Rick, Rick. Eh what who where when, out of the bivvy to a cup of coffee, rebait recast spent the morning doing not a great deal trying to tempt some fish to feed but with little luck. The wind had swung around and was coming from the south east and picking up in strength. We decided enough was enough at about 2pm and packed all our gear and started the half a dozen trips to the car. Just as we sat in the car the heavens opened again.

All in all Orchard place Fisheries is a fantastic place with 4 lakes offering carp to about 45lb, Sturgeon to 19lb3, catfish barbel etc. Not to expensive (cost us £20 each for 24hours) and well laid out. Ok we could of done with more fish, and to take Craigs virginity in Carp fishing but thats fishing. The place is hard to find down some country lanes and well hidden by the trees.  We would defentily go again and tempt out some more fish, i’m determined to have one of the big carp out of there. The owners who walk around the lakes couldn’t be more helpful.

Next time we go hopefully teddy, Mike and Wez will join us and we will put some more fish on the bank And i will have a camera that works!